The "Land of the Free" punishes or imprisons more of its citizens than any other country. Whle the United States hosts just 5% of the world's population, it holds a full 25% of the world's prisoners. At 2.5 million, the US has more prisoners than China. Not more prisoners per capita, more prisoners.
An additional 5 million are under "Correctional Supervision" (probation, parole, or court monitoring), leaving 1 in 31 Americans under constant State control, prompting The Economist to declare that "never in the civilized world have so many been locked up for so little."?
The Exile Nation Project is not just one film, its a free online archive of interviews, short films, and other features about the War on Drugs and the Criminal Justice System that will continue to grow and expand over the next two years. The feature length documentary is just the entry point for the larger project.
Our very generous foundation grant from the Tedworth Charitable Trust and the openDemocracy group got us off the ground and allowed us make the first film and launch the archive. However, this is a non-commercial, not-for-profit project, and funds are always hard to come by. We need to raise $7,000 in 75 days to meet our Kickstarter goal, so that we can hold additional screenings/community organizing events in your town this year!
You can give$5, $10, $25…whatever you can spare. For those who can give more, we have some reward packages listed below.
If you believe in me, my work, or in this cause and the many people involved who I have tried faithfully to document, anything you can give will help.
Kickstarter account for The Exile Nation Project.
Special YouTube preview of the film.
UPCOMING SCREENINGS
San Francisco: Thursday, March 31st- http://exilenationproject.eventbrite.com/ (Hosted by EvolverSF)
LA: Friday, April 1 – http://exilenationhollywood.eventbrite.com/ (Hosted by Evolver LA)
Chicago: Monday, May 2nd at the Portage Theater (details TBA)
NYC: Saturday, May 7th at the Downtown Television Center (details TBA) (Hosted by The Drug Policy Alliance & Evolver/Reality Sandwich)
